Distribution of virulence-associated gene profiles, phylogeny, serotyping and MLST results among all 32 strains.

Phylo, phylogroup; ST, sequence type; Cplx, clonal complex. Adhesins fimH (D-mannose-specific adhesin of type I fimbriae), fimAvMT78 (FimA variant MT78 of type 1 fimbriae), papEF and papG (P fimbria subunits), and sfa/focDE (S fimbrial adhesin/putative F1C fimbrial adhesin); toxins cdtB (cytolethal distending toxin), hlyF (hemolysin F), and astA (EAST1, enteroaggregative E. coli heat-stable toxin); siderophores fyuA (yersiniabactin), iutA (aerobactin), iroN (novel catecholate siderophore receptor), and irp-2 (iron repressible associated with yersiniabactin synthesis); protectins kpsM (groups II and III, specifically targeting the K1, K2 and K5 genes of group II capsules), cvaC (ColV, colicin V from serum resistance-associated plasmids), iss (surface exclusion serum survival protein), and traT (serum resistance); miscellaneous virulence genes ompT (protease), ibeA (invasion of brain endothelium), malX (PAI, pathogenicity island marker), and usp (uropathogenic-specific protein, bacteriocin).a Virulence-associated genes shown in boldface are the five genes characteristics of APEC strains.Distribution of virulence-associated gene profiles, phylogeny, serotyping and MLST results among all 32 strains.